Ruto pledges Sh65bn boost to education budget

President William Ruto. [File, Standard] President William Ruto has announced the education budget will be increased to Sh765 billion in the next financial year. Speaking during the inaugural graduation ceremony of the National Intelligence and Research University (NIRU), the President said the increased allocation will support ongoing education reforms and help stabilise funding gaps affecting key programmes. The Ministry of Education received Sh700 billion this financial year. This means that the education ministry will get Sh65 billion more. He further directed that part of the proceeds from the privatisation of state-owned enterprises be channelled towards research and innovation to strengthen the country's knowledge economy. "Education is the single most important investment we can make in our human capital. No single nation can develop beyond its capacity to think, innovate, and generate knowledge," Ruto said during the graduation ceremony that saw 31 students conferred with Master's degrees. The record allocation comes at a time when the education sector is grappling with significant financial strain. Last year, capitation for secondary school learners dropped from the expected Sh22,244 per student to Sh15,000. Schools have repeatedly raised concerns over delayed disbursements and reduced funding under the Free Primary and Free Day Secondary Education programmes. Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba announced a package of major reform bills aimed at strengthening the legal framework governing the education sector, describing them as critical to building a globally competitive system. Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Ogamba said the Cabinet had recently approved the proposed laws and forwarded them to Parliament for consideration The CS stated that the reforms are designed to create an enabling policy environment for universities and training institutions. "Our commitment as a Ministry is to ensure that the legal and policy framework supports innovation, quality, and global competitiveness," Ogamba said. He noted that the bills address long-standing challenges, including governance inefficiencies, funding mechanisms, regulatory overlaps, and quality assurance gaps that have hampered the sector's growth. According to the CS, once enacted, the laws will strengthen institutional accountability, enhance oversight of academic standards, and promote research and innovation. "These reforms are not merely administrative. They are foundational to building an education system capable of competing globally and serving the needs of our nation and region," he said. The Vice Chancellor of National Intelligence and Research University (NIRU), Prof James Kibon, noted that the university has already expanded its academic offerings to include specialised master's programmes in intelligence, policy, technology, and communication studies, while pursuing accreditation for doctoral training and new programmes in leadership, counterterrorism, and biosecurity. "We are committed to preparing strategic leaders who can respond to complex threats facing Africa and the Global South through research, innovation, and collaboration," Prof Kibon said.

Ruto pledges Sh65bn boost to education budget

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